Latch.



OLIVER LEWIS, OF WIIITESBORO, TEXAS.

LATCH.

Specification of Letters atent.

Patented May 18, 1909.

Application filed Gctober 31, 190?. Serial No. 399,988.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, @Livnn Lewis, citizen of the United States, residing at VV'hitesboro,

in the county of Grayson and State ci' Texas, I

have invented certain new and useful iinproveinents in Latches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in latches, and more particularly to that class of latches suitable to be used on swinging doors.

The object of my invention is to provide an eflicient door latch of simple and durable construction, which may be released from either side to permit the door to be swung inwardly or outwardly, as may be desired.

A further obj ect ot the invention is to provide a latch which may be used so as to relese the door held by said latch from either si e.

A still further object of the invention is the provision oi means for locking said latch in such a manner as to prevent the normal operation of the same.

Nith the above and other objects in view, the invention has relation to certain new and novel Jfeatures, an example of which is described in the followingl speciiication and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like ligures of reference refer to simi lar parts in the several views.

In the drawings z-Figure l is a horizontal sectional view or a portion of a door and its jamb showing the latch in plan, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view oi' the door showing the latch in elevation. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified forni of latch, and Fig. 5 is a side view of the same.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numerals 1 and 2 in Fig. 1 designate two latch levers let into a door 3 and projecting from opposite sides thereof. These levers are pivoted at 4 and have proj ecting lugs 5 adapted to engage strike plates 6 secured on the door jamb 7. The levers are forced outward by iat curved springs 8.

The description just given is that of the ing door. Another form of the latch, substantially the saine as that shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, wherein the numeral 9 designates a single pivoted lever let into the door and projecting from both sides thereof. This lever is provided with a single lug 10 and one spring 'il 'lor holding the same in its proper position. A suitable licok 12 may be pivoted on the side of the door and swing down over the lever to lock the saine open when the lever is depressed. The double latch is likewise provided with the hooks 12 for the purpose o'l locking the levers when depressed.

It is obvious that when the swinging door to which my doubl latch is secured swings opposite its opposing jamb, the lugs 5 will engage said j amb on either side, thus locking the door and securely holding the same in its closed position. It is also obvious that by depressing either of the levers l or 2 the lug on the lever so depressed will be disengaged from the jamb and the door may be then swung open from that side. Either oi' both of said levers may be held in their depressed position byineans of the hook 12, and the door may thus be prevented from latching. Itis further obvious that when the door carrying the latch, as shown in Figs. 1land 5, swings to a closed position, the lever E) will be forced outward by the spring i l and thelug I0 will engage a strike plate 16 on the j amb 7, and thus stop the door in the desired position. The door may be opene d from the side onwhich the lug is set by depressing the lever on that side, or it may be opened from the opposite side by forcing said lever outward and thus disengaging the lug 10 from the door jamb.

I wish to call particular attention to the handle and levers and their broadened handle portions curving away from the jamb and toward the door. It is obvious that only a gentle pressure exerted against the handle portion will force it toward the door and withdraw the lug from the plate. Thus in case of a door swinging away from the person approaching, pressure exerted by hiin on the handle portion would release the latch and' swing the door, and he could accomplish this by bringing his elbow, shoulder or arm in lieu of his hand, into engagement with the lever, thus leaving his hands free for carrying any articles he might desire to take through the door-way. This is better accomplished I when the lever curves toward the door away double latch suitable to be used on a swingfrom the jamb as it not only makes the operation more easy, but provides more room for operator to engage the latch.

I/Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letteis Patent is zk l. In a swinging door latch, the combination with a door and its j amb, said door having a cut away portion, oi a handle lever having a narrow portion pivoted in and at one side of the cut-away portion of the door and adapted to be swung away from the jamb, a spring located in said cut-away portion in rear of the lever and having one end bearing against the same, a strike plate mounted on the side of the jamb, and a lug projecting from the lever adapted to engage the plate, said lever having a broadened curved portion extending away from the j amb permitting the lever to be swung by pressure toward the door.

2. ln a swinging door latch, the combination with a door having a transverse recess and its jamh, of a handle lever latch having a narrow portion )rejecting into the recess and pivoted at the tlar side thereof, a curved and broadened handle formed on the lever extending in close proximity to the near side of the recess7 a spring having one end secured in the far side of the recess and engaging the near side of the lever adjacent the near side of the recess, a strike plate mounted on the jamb, and a lug projecting from the lever between the handle and the narrow portion outside of the door and adjacent the near side of the recess adapted to engage the plate and to be withdrawn when the handle is swung toward the door.

3. in a swinging door latch7 the combination with a door having a transverse recess and its jamb, oi a handle lever latch having a channeled narrow portion projecting into the recess and pivoted at the far side thereof and a broadened handle portion projecting from the near side ol the recess and curving toward the door, a fiat spring having one end secured in the recess and the other bearing in the channel of the narrow portion of the lever, a plate carried by the jamb, and a lug projecting from the lever between the handle portion and the narrow portion adapted to engage the plate.

4. ln a swinging door latch, the combination with a door and its jamb, said door having a cut away portion, of a handle lever having a narrow portion pivoted in and at one side of the cut away portion of the door and adapted to be swung from the jamb, a spring located in said cut away uortion in rear of the lever and having one en bearing against the same, a strike plate mounted on the side of the jamb, a lug projecting from the lever adapted to engage the plate, said lever having a broadened curved portion extending away from the jamb permitting the lever to be swung by ressure toward the door, and means for loc zing the handle lever against operation.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OLIVER LEWIS.

TWitnesses z G. D. BAKER, W. S. OMoHUNDno. 

